Hyperhidrosis, or excessive sweating, can affect up to 3 percent of the population. It usually begins early in life, and 50 to 60 percent of hyperhidrosis patients have a family history of the disorder.

Hyperhidrosis can occur almost anywhere on the body. Usually it affects the palms of the hands, soles of the feet or the underarms. These symptoms can be socially and professionally debilitating.

Medical Treatments

Medical treatment options for hyperhidrosis include:

Biofeedback

Iontophoresis (applying a low-intensity electric current while the affected areas are immersed in an electrolyte solution)

Topical antiperspirants

Medical therapy

Botulinum toxin

Surgical Option

However, not all patients respond to these treatments. For patients with severe hyperhidrosis of the hands, surgery is the treatment of choice. Surgeons at the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics perform a minimally invasive procedure to safely and effectively treat hyperhidrosis.

Matt dealt with hyperhidrosis, a condition that could have made his goal of becoming a doctor challenging. UW Health thoracic surgeon James Maloney was able to put an end to Matt's excessive hand sweating. Watch Matt's Story: